Congratulations to the 2014 winners of the Formula Classic Handicap Championship. It looks like the three of them took out all of the competitions, rightly so as Brian and Lance were the only drivers to competed in every round and Michael was in all but one and that was due to a mechanical breakdown. A big thank you to Dick Ward for presenting the group with a fantastic perpetual trophy which will have Brian’s name engraved upon it as the first winner.
2014 Formula Classic Handicap Championship
Shannon’s WA All Historic – 25th-26th October 2014
Well what a fantastic event. A big thank you to everyone for making a huge effort to get 45 entries in (enough for three fields of cars), including all of our international and eastern states visitors who left with very fond memories of this event, the competitors in it and the WA hospitality provided.
The weekend saw some drivers and cars not seen on the track for quite a while plus a new addition, Andrew Nielson and his West, joined us for the first time. The racing in all three groups was very good with clusters of cars competing against each other throughout the fields, none more so than the lead group of four cars in the Formula Junior class, with a second covering them in all the races keeping the crowd and commentators very excited – and I am sure the drivers involved were as well. There was considerable activity in the infield garages with many a mechanic piecing back together cars that thought five races was a few too many. An unfortunate oil slick after Andrew Bryson’s new motor said “Enough” led to a massive off in the group1 race and also led to off’s in the group 2 race. The weather was very kind to us putting off any rain until after racing was finished for the day but by the end of it all I didn’t see any unhappy people, smiles were everywhere, so well done all on supporting a great event.
A special thanks to Martin Bullock (Densford Civil) for digging deep and financially supporting the event and associated activities, also to Neil McCrudden and the WARM museum for not only accommodating some of our visitors but providing cars to anyone who needed one – there were 9 WARM cars running and 1 spare. A thank you to Brian & Anne Searle for also accommodating some visitors and putting on a function for them, to ICL (transport, containers, storage) for sponsoring and arranging the movement of the container for our New Zealand competitors and finally to the WASCC and staff behind the scenes who helped co-ordinate and put on this meeting.
Results Round 7
Spices Cup – 21st September 2014
Once again very low entry numbers for what was a very wet meeting, thanks to those who took the effort to enter. Lance Barrett proved to be a sly old fox positioning his much slower car well up in the points in each race earning him 3rd spot outright (and on handicap) for the day.
Results Round 6
2014 VSCC Coalfields 500 – 13th-14th September 2014
Although entries were down the VSCC agreed to let our class run at the event which was thoroughly enjoyed by those who entered.
Results Round 5
Spring Race Meeting – 10th August 2014
13 Cars for race one with Michael Henderson in the Ralt getting a different view of the grid, by starting from the rear following starter motor issues in qualifying. Michael’s ails didn’t end there, however, as after making his way to the lead loose wiring caused him to DNF on the first lap resulting in a safety car for a couple of laps. The door was now open to the others to grab outright points and Shane Gifford took the win with a very respectable 58.85 second lap from Leon Magistro and Lance Carwardine 3rd. Martin Bullock finished 2nd on the track but suffered a 60 sec penalty after creeping forward at the start.
Race two saw Michael winning from the rear of the grid from a quick Shane Gifford and Martin Bullock, also starting from the rear. Leon Magistro’s drive shaft failed on his Ralt on lap 6 taking him out of the days competition.
With Martin Bullock pulling out with oil pressure issues and Leon’s driveshaft failure only 11 starters where left for race three. David Watkins had clutch failure during the race causing him to retire after some dices with Neil McCrudden in the earlier events. The safety car interrupted the event again closing the field up, this lead to some close racing mid-field between Brian Seales, Harvey Leys, Glen Swarbrick and Colin McKee. Michael Henderson finished out front from Shane Gifford and Lance Carwardine.
The two safety cars during the day played into the hands of the slower cars for handicap points with both Bruce Edgar in his Elfin Formula Junior, Glen Swarbrick in the WARM Macon and Jim Ridgewell in the Van Diemen picking up valuable points in the series. Lance Carwardine however did enough to extend his lead at the head of the championship.
It was good to have Andrew Gifford able to attend the meeting, even if only as an observer, hopefully looking forward to getting back in the seat to better his brother’s time soon. Thanks to Michael for enabling the inaugural Formula Classic Creche after his corporate box was filled will children from within the group.
Results Round 4
96fm Keeping Real Music Alive – 12th July 2014
The day started with only 12 cars including John Rowe in his lovely Cooper T45.
Issues in qualifying with a few of cars saw numbers drop to race 1 leaving only 9 starters. A loose spark plug saw the end of Simon Barrett’s day and a coming together between Michael Henderson and Henry Oosterbaan on lap 5 saw them out of race 1 as well. Lance Carwardine led Neil McCrudden home to the flag.
Fuel issues for Glenn Swarbrick in race 2 saw another car out of the event with now only 6 finishers for that race. Lance wining from Neil again.
Michael, with a lot of help from his crew, did manage to get back on the track by race 3. More fuel issues for Glenn left only 7 finishers, led by Michael Henderson from Lance in second.
Results Round 3
Autumn Classic – 27th April 2014
Our first event at Barbagallo for 2014.
Unfortunately Neil McCrudden had a big off going into turn 7 during practice, hitting the wall and putting the Macon out of the days racing. Michael Henderson missed his first race for ages with gearbox issues and it showed with the new front row on the grid false starting, twice, in the first event until they and the new course starter got in sync. A couple of off’s in the first event by Kevin Taylor and Henry Oosterbaan, and some car issues for others saw only 9 runners finish of the 13 starters. The minute penalty applied to the first two cars saw Lance Carwardine win the race with a second going to a much improved Brian Searles in his Ralt RT1.
After the first race events 2 & 3 were trouble free with great weather leading to very good times by most runners. Martin Bullock in his new Lotus 27 went within 0.04 seconds of breaking the Formula Junior track record – not too bad for his first race on this circuit in the car. Henry Oosterbaan showed the advantage gained by racing in Europe to finally break the 70 second mark with a 69.8 being his fastest ever at Wanneroo in the Alton AR2.
Results Round 2
Collie Icebreaker – 22nd February 2014
Our first event for the year was held at the Collie circuit where many a car, and driver, suffered from the summer heat.
The relaxed weekend long event was, however, enjoyed by all the competitors with 100+ attending the race/regularity meeting. Saturday evening entertainment was enjoyed by many and much cooler after being moved out onto the grass area.
Results Round 1
Championship Standings
Congratulations to handicap winners on the day: 1st Michael Henderson, 2nd Lance Carwardine & 3rd Kevin Taylor/Neil McCrudden.
VSCC Results:
Formula Classic: 1st Michael Hendrson, 2nd Lance Carwardine, 3rd Neil McCrudden
*Sunday Oct 19 VSCC 100th Anniversary Sprints Lake Perkolili 2 mile
Weekend Oct 25-26 WASCC WA Historic Meeting Barbagallo
Sunday Nov 30 VSCC Vintage Stampede Regularity Barbagallo
*check with organisers for car eligibility
This is a very full calendar for the year and there should be something there for everyone. All race meetings will count towards the Formula Classic Handicap Series
Twin Trophies Race Day – 3rd November 2013
Oil Oil Oil!
This was our last round for the season and a good field of Formula Classic cars plus a a couple of HSC competitors took our grid to 19.
Unfortunately I retired after qualifying with broken valve springs and so sat back to watch the unfolding events of race 1 when the fastest Radical of Richard Bloomfield broke an engine and dumped a considerable quantity of oil on the track causing a massive exodus of cars in all directions as drivers struggled for grip. Unfortunately the wall at turn 4 took it’s toll on a couple of cars and Ray Robertson’s launch into the infield saw the Befa take a lot of damage to it’s nose area. After a delayed finish to race 1 we only had 13 starters for race 2, 10 starting race 3 and only 7 finishing the day still running, not a good day for attrition!
We now have all summer to rebuild for next year where we hope to get two runs at Collie plus 5-6 at Barbagallo. 36 different competitors in the competition this year plus a couple of new cars coming out after rebuilds is all positive for the 2014 season, hopefully we can get most of us to the track for all the events.
A special congratulations goes to the only driver who competed in all 7 rounds this year – Glenn Swarbrick, although having a few issues with flywheels at this last event.
Results Round 7
Spices Catering Cup – 12th October 2013
A damp start to the day for qualifying openned out to a beutiful dry day for racing which saw a good field take to the track with close racing for positions 2,3 & 4 and another close group in the midfield. A race incident saw some body work and front suspension damage to Harvey Ley’s car. Andrew Gifford appears to have overcome his fuel issues, Shane showed us how to have a sleep in and still make the first race. Murray Charnley had some good chasing to do it the HSR handicap races finishing 3rd for the day in that group.
Results Round 6
VSCC Collie Coalfields 500 – Saturday 28th/Sunday 29th September 2013
What a great weekend with good support from the Formula Classic group with 14 entrants, the regularity field having an additional 8 open wheelers competing in a field of 11. It was good to see Martin Bullock and Neil McCrudden back in race suits after their Europe adventure.
Some astute competitors arrived Friday and managed some familiarity laps in of the circuit. Saturday arrived slightly overcast but dry for the day which enable us to get in some good times, Michael Henderson putting down a 47.3 second lap to set the pace for the weekend. The short straights evened out any power advantages and led to some quite close racing. If was good to see the GWG out racing again and Rod Quinn showed how competitive it was in his hands, managing to get into the lead from the start – passing even Michael! George Webber had engine issues, placing quite a bit of oil on turn 4 and being unable to take part in the rest of the weekend.
Saturday evening was very laid back and enjoyed by all with a band providing music plus the odd cameo by Craig Bradke to liven up the evening.
Sunday started and finished with drizzling rain with one of the three races held in the dry, this kept a couple of competitors, who only had slicks, off the track but we were joined by Dick Ward in the Fiat Abarth to liven things up and make Michael work a bit harder. Unfortunately Rod Quinn’s great starts came to an end with the gearbox failing in race 4 ending his weekend.
Thanks go to the VSCC and the volunteer officials for putting on a great, easy going weekend.
Results Round 5
Congratulations to handicap winners on the day: Equal 1st Brian Searles & Craig Bradke, 3rd Kevin Taylor.
See NATSOFT for full results
So far this year we have had 35 competitors in the Formula Classic Championship – that must be a new record.
August Race Meeting – Sunday 25th August 2013
We were presented with a very wet start to the day with qualifying on a damp track and races 1 and 3 in the rain. The racing was quite close again in the midfield and in race 1 Leon made Michael work quite hard for the win with just 0.4 seconds between them at the finish.
Results Round 4 – Sunday August 25 2013
All Historics Race Meeting Saturday July 6 & Sunday July 7 2013
What a great weekends racing, 180 competitors across all categories made this one of WASCC’s largest meetings for the year. Weather was great cool mornings topping out at about 18 deg with clear skies. We had 21 starters on the sheet, a pre-meeting vote opted for rolling starts with CAMs not allowing overtaking prior to crossing the start line.
Our grid was depleted from the start when Dick Ward had car issues and Bruce Edgar did not show as he had melted a piston in his Elfin Formula Junior. During practise on a very cold and slippery track Dennis Coomber put the Halliday into the sand – first red flag. Then, unfortunately, Joe Demarte put his Formula Holden into the wall on the main straight, spinning from turn 7, punching the front left wheel into the wall, tearing it off and putting the lower A-arm through the carbon fibre tub, grazing his left calf – very lucky!! Second red flag and end of session, if you were lucky you had two laps to qualify in. Ray Robertson qualified with us in the Befa F2 but changed to the historic racing and sports car group for racing, joining Murray Charnley and Ken Lyons.
1st race (Saturday) saw 16 starters with a rolling start. Michael Henderson pulled the group up to a crawl, which was great, a pity some competitors must have thought we were already racing with great clouds of tyre smoke from panic breaking into turn 7 prior to the start. This resulted in a very ramshackled bunch approaching the starter but he still let us go. Glenn Swabrick and GlenCaple had car issues and pulled out. Simon Barrett tried to pass Matt Lyford’s lovely new Brabham by going under it – luckily not too much damage but both out that left Michael Henderson to take the win although he had his hands full for a lap or two with Leon Magistro in his Ralt.
Sunday, very cold, and we were first event up. The clerk of course agreed to a request for two warm up laps to try and get some temperatures up, 17 starters, Colin McKee out with a cracked front disc, and we all finished! We made a much better job of the rolling start, the track was quite slippery with the cold. There were good clusters of competitors close together racing for position which was quite different from our normal runs. Michael Henderson finished out front from Leon Magistro and Glen Caple 3rd.
Race 3 saw 15 starters, and 11 finishers with four pulling out with car issues. Michael Henderson from Leon Majistro & Glen Caple again.
Race 4, 16 starters and all finished, Michael Henderson, Leon Majistro & Glen Caple again.
Last race of the event. 15 starters with a big crash on lap 4 through Cobbs when Dennis squeezed in on an unseen John Hurney cracking the fibreglass down the right side of the Dennis’s Haliday and breaking lower rear control arm on John’s FF causing him to spin amongst 5 other cars. Luckily every one escaped injury but two cars out. 10 finished the race with Michael Henderson, Leon Majistro and Andrew Goldie picking up the places.
Ken Lyons and Ray Robertson did well on our handicap results even though they were in the other group with Murray Charnley in the Lotus 23 having some car issues.
It was great to see some new cars and new faces out with us and the return of some drivers who have been away from the group for a while.
NOTE: These are interim handicap results only and are not final
Results Round 3
